Guardian ad Litem (GAL) program supports and advocates for the best interest of abused, neglected and abandoned children who are involved in dependency court proceedings. Currently there are over 1300 children in dependency court within our district which includes Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin and Okeechobee Counties. The 19th Judicial Circuit GAL Program (our district) is responsible for the recruitment, training, support and supervision of court-appointed individuals who represent and advocate for these children’s best interests.
What is a Guardian ad Litem?
A ‘Guardian’ is appointed by the court to advocate for the best interest of a child. The majority of these children have been removed from their homes because of alleged abuse, abandonment or neglect. The ‘Guardian’:

• Visits the child a minimum of once a month and most importantly – listens to the child.
• Gathers information about the case
• Interviews those involved in the child’s life and case
• Works with community partners to ensure the child is receiving the assistance and support they need
• Makes recommendations to the court based on the information gathered
• Works to ensure the child does not get overlooked or lost in the system
• Provides the child a voice in the court and represents what is in the child’s best interest.

The “Guardian” is the one constant in the child’s life during this often lengthy process.